5 Reasons To Be Excited About Public School

13Aug

Tonight I attended “meet the teacher” night at my daughter’s school. She’ll enter kindergarten in a little under 36 hours {but who’s counting?}. She got Mrs. Miller, a 12 year veteran teacher at the school. None of her preschool friends are in her class {ugh} and there’s only 5 girls to 15 boys. She says she’s only somewhat excited because, “I’m going to miss you, mommy.”

I sat there tonight, an over-sized person in a teeny tiny chair, filling out paperwork at a table that barely reaches my knees when I stand up. I asked questions about car pool line and school lunch. We heard about field trips and class rules. The teacher showed her balanced personality. . .a beautiful mixture of grace and firmness that every kindergarten teacher should possess. My husband and I commented that we couldn’t believe we were now “those parents” – the ones with kids in school. Seems like only moments ago I was taking a nap on the cold, tile floor of my own kindergarten class.

But here we are. . .about to walk into a whole knew phase of parenting. . .of life. And I couldn’t be more confident in the days that lie ahead.

Laura wrote such a beautiful and balanced post last week about making peace with your schooling decision. As a mom who’s experienced both public and homeschool situations, Laura possesses a unique perspective that was so helpful to our readers and to myself.

I realize that not all parents step into public school with the same confidence I hold. We live in a small town. The school is less than 1 mile from our home. We know many of the parents and have been told most of the teachers and administrators at the school are Christians. This is not the norm. I understand that our situation is unique.

Many parents enter the halls of their local educational establishment with much apprehension. They’ve heard stories of overcrowded classrooms and less than eager teachers. They’re concerned about Common Core standards and having their children pushed beyond their limits. All of these concerns are valid and worth much prayer and consideration. But whether our circumstances are completely rosey or a bit blurry, we can be confident that when our kids walk through the doors of their public school, they are walking into a place destined for them by God. If we’ve prayerfully considered our child’s education options and we’ve chosen public school we can be sure He goes before them.

If you are a working mom and have no choice but to send your child to public school, they are walking into a place destined for them by God. If you feel in no way called to homeschool your child, they will enter a place of learning destined for them by God every day they attend their local school. If you wish you could but cannot afford private school, your child can still thrive and excel wherever they are.

It might seem that I am confident in our public school decision because the circumstances look great. While I am thankful for such a positive review of our local school district, it is only part of the reason I am at peace with our decision. I hold great peace about our schooling decision because I am 100%, without-a-doubt, positive that it’s exactly what we are supposed to do. Sometimes this type of confidence comes willingly. Sometimes it comes after wrestling it out with God, asking why He couldn’t provide different circumstances in our case and then being led by him to a peace that passes understanding.

Either way – peace is peace – period.

After we reach a place of peace with where our kids will go to school, it’s time to get excited. Peace will only get us so far. In order for our children to truly thrive where they are, we must engage fully in their education experience.

5 reasons to get excited about sending your child to public school:

1. Learned Independence. My daughter’s teacher said tonight that after a few days, we have to let our little ones walk into school by themselves. She assured us that there are many teachers on staff to help them get where they need to go. And then she went there, “At some point they have to learn to be independent.” Yes, it is unnerving to think of my little peanut roaming around a hallway by herself. But I must trust that she can do it. I must let go. And because I trust God with her life, even more than I trust myself as her mom, I can be at peace knowing he will guide her into independence.

2. Learned Responsibility. Following directions. Taking ownership. A child outside their home will learn a different level of responsibility. When done in partnership with a teacher and parent, this can do wonders for a child’s maturity and growth. Whether you are thrilled with the teacher you are given to partner with or not, take an active roll in this exchange and your child will grow.

3. Building Healthy Relationships with Authority. People always say kids act differently {usually better} with authoritative figures other than their parents. Whether or not this is true for your child, being accountable to another adult and building a healthy relationship of trust and respect with that adult is crucial. The classroom is a wonderful arena for this type of relationship to form. Not all teachers are stellar but most are completely committed, talented, patient and kind angels who pour their lives into children daily. You know you remember the name of every, sweet teacher who impacted your life. I want those memories for my children too.

4. Building Community. One of the most exciting things for me in sending my child to public school is getting to know all of the other moms and kids. These are our people. Our community. There is a level of pride and respect for our town that rises within the walls of our schools. We need to dig in to the lives of those around us. Public school provides a great context for this.

5. Adventure. True, I have no idea what I am in for. I don’t have much control. But bring it on! I am approaching this adventure head on with my child at the helm {yes, I am embracing the independence and responsibility that is coming} and I {and my husband) as co-captains. Together we will navigate whatever comes our way. As we seek God, he will map out the way before us. We may experience storms along the way but it’s nothing we cannot handle without his help. We cannot let fear rob our children of the adventure that awaits.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Hebrews 6:19

My heart in sharing these words of encouragement is not to posture one form of education over another. I think homeschooling is a wonderful option. I am constantly amazed and humbled by the commitment and diligence I see in homeschooling mamas. But it’s not what God has chosen for us. It’s not what God has chosen for many. There are a host of resources and blogs out there for homeschooling moms but not many to encourage faith-based families in their public school decision.

My hope is to encourage moms who will send their children out into the mission field over the next few weeks. Whether they will start kindergarten or high school. . .whether they’ll attend a top notch school or one that could use a little funding. . .God goes before them and will guide them with our help.

Will your child attend public school? What are you most excited about? How can we be praying for you if you are apprehensive about your situation?

Comments

Thanks so much! We are entering our 8th year in public school. We have a middle schooler and 2 elementary aged kids. We have had great experiences (in the Los Angeles Unified) with teachers and principals who are caring and obviously want our kids to succeed and build a life long love for learning. We have also had great opportunities to build community and relationships that I know will be meaningful in years to come. We have never had to deal with any of the stuff people seem to freak out about. We believe in taking these things as they come and talking openly with our kids, always using opportunity to share he gospel with them and others.

Thank you for this!! I feel like there is so little written about this topic to encourage public school moms. I was at first horrified to recognize that God was calling us to public school. Our boys are now entering their 1st and 3rd grade years. We have seen God’s faithfulness, His protection, and it has been a wild ride in trusting God. It has been exciting and we have had so many ministry opportunities. This was a post I wrote about looking back at our first Kindergarten year in public school: http://wonderyearsof2.blogspot.com/2011/04/reflections-on-kindergarten-at-public.html

I’m in your same boat…sent my 5 year old daughter to kindergarten today. Excited about the adventure that lies ahead of us! I have friends who home school and friends that don’t. I don’t feel God calling me to take on home schooling so public school it is. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Jessica, I agree that there is not much out there to encourage faith-based families who send their kids to public school. Isaac starts school in public kindergarten in two weeks and this post really encouraged me. Thanks so much.

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Well, Hello There!

Welcome to Gather & Grow! I'm Jess and I'm a busy mom, just like you! I want to see my children grow in relationship with Jesus and impact the world for his glory, but it seems impossible to fit effective faith-building into our very busy lives. (can I get an amen?!) I'm on a mission to make faith simple and long-lasting and I'm thrilled you've chosen to join me here. Read More…

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